great idea what better way to enjoy a pumpin westerly .Where's picnic point?I presume the entrance central coast and not the gearges river sydney

Great plan mate
I will hopefully see you there

Huey

It was great fun! Many thanks for organising it. It doesn't need to be official to provide a good laugh.

Though, the way we had it set up, I can easily imagine how it could turn into a line carnage if more than 4 kites start together... (especially in NW-SW winds with big gusts coming out of nowhere). If one guy gets overpowered, it requires some attention from all around to avoid him + his kite, not always easy at full speed.

If we were to have another go at it, I would suggest to make the triangle a bit bigger and a start line perpendicular to the wind direction (first bouy being dead upwind of the start line), that way it allows for everyone to start together with less speed and less risk of tangle + it gives some time until the first bouy to have some distance starting to appear between the faster and slower riders.

As far as I understand, this is the way most kite-racing are being done now days for that particular safety reason. They had another competition 10 days ago in Britany (France) with 100 riders all starting together!!! (some photos here: www.pixsail.com/index.php?/category/146 )

I have some pictures of Saturday's session but unfortunatly none of racing... 'cause I was in the water most of the time ... will post them shortly.

see you and thanks again
Jacques

Speed racing was fun, thanks Gav, us wave riders find flat water a little dull, and speed racing livens things up some what. I liked it when the guy 4 meters in front of me face planted at full speed going around a marker.

Re the the picts of the 100 people in the speed race, nice to see a few Australian Kites (Griffinkites.com.au) in there
www.pixsail.com/picture.php?/1443/category/146
( the black kites with white struts and red logo)

Also Nice to see the Australian Kite Company come first in the above event!

http://www.grandprixpetitnavire.com/admin/pages_series/resultats-kitsurf/resultats-kitsurf.html

HOCEINI Sylvain

The Griffin kites came 2nd in the PKRA world speed cup also.

The Speed Score for Gavs race out of 3 heats is
Gav 1,
Splaat 1
3rd race wind died and we all sank.

I dont think the course affected any other kiters apart from the show pony on the cabrihina.....

Hi, Gav took the time to walk through the mud up wind far away from the main show pony's, next time it may move south. it was not in the way of anyone

I'd like to see some GPS speed runs done too, upwind to the island in a NW and back again you can get some serious speed.

I wasn't able to make it, but it does sound like a good day. Will it be held regulaly as an un-offical race event?.. Got a big bouey we can use as well

YoMoFo said...

peanuticus said...

YoMoFo said...

I don't mean to be the fun police here, but is there still enough room to kite if your not into course racing? I wasn't there on sat due to work but it'd suck if the race took up the whole of Septic point not allowing others to ride.

you don't have to kite in front of the peanut gallery! the island to the north is a WAY better spot to kite. better wind and flatter water

Cool, but if it's better there why don't you race there then ???? Haha

Agree with yomofo, I have nothing against People from Sydney coming up to the lake to kite,and I like the idea of racing events, but to come up and hold an event at a spot where all the locals like to ride is a bit rude. It should be moved well away from the main kiting area used by locals

bigmark100 said...

I dont think the course affected any other kiters apart from the show pony on the cabrihina.....

Don't be jealous BigMark100 just because I'm a better kiter then you. The course didn't affect me but I did ask for them to move it out and up a bit more so that the people that didn't want to race had a bit more room which was much appreciated. As long as they set the course away from where most people are riding us locals won't have a problem. What pisses us locals of is dangerous kiting. We had a kite crash hard on the beach and also two kiters get tangled up. I'm not sure under what circumstances these two things happen in, so I can't accuse anyone of being in the wrong but please can everyone be careful. We have a pretty good crew of kiters up here on the coast and there only seems to be dramas when people from outside come in and ride. Please when riding any new spot do what I do and go up and introduce yourself to local riders and 9 times out of 10 they will be more than happy to talk to you and point out a few things. If you just rock up at a spot and go out without talking to anyone:

A. The locals will think who is this dickhead setting up

B. If you get in trouble they will not help you

c. They can point out unforeseen dangerous.

Don't get me wrong im not saying that you guys don't do this, it is just a helpfull hint for anyone riding new spots. The locals up here are pretty protective of a few spots (not so much at the lake as it smells and is gross) so it is always best to talk to them and find out what the rules are. If you do this for any new spot you are riding you want have any drama and you should have a great day on the water.

Just wanted to correct Chris about race 3, Mark on the slingshot was the only one that completed the course as the wind dropped, so he won that one.

A quiet day at Picnic Point

Holy **** thats the busiest day i've ever seen it. Glad I wasn't there. Thank god I get days off during the week.

I will get the Northern Beaches Crew some shattered glass embedded kite lines they use in the Indian kite festivals that behead a few spectators every year. Should be good for cutting through the Mexicans kite lines. The eating meat thing though is just not sensible.

Mid week is a little less crowded.